How to Write Morse Code

Write Morse with dots, dashes, letter spaces, and / between words. Rules, examples (HELLO WORLD, SOS), and tattoo/spacing pitfalls.

Direct answer: To write Morse code in text, use . for dits and - for dahs, put a space between letters, and a slash / between words. Example: HELLO WORLD → .... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -... Do not insert spaces inside a single letter.

Translate any text How to send (transmit)

How to Write Morse Code (Notation Rules)

This page is about writing Morse as text — for notes, tattoos, homework, and decoders — not about keying a radio (see how to send).

  1. Look up each character on the alphabet / letters chart.
  2. Write the pattern without internal spaces — A is .-, never . -.
  3. Separate letters with one space — AB is .- -....
  4. Separate words with / (clearer than triple spaces for web tools).
  5. Verify by pasting into the translator Morse box and decoding.

Spacing Cheat Sheet

RuleWritten formTiming meaning
Inside a letterNo space (... = S)1-unit gaps between elements
Between lettersOne space3-unit letter gap
Between words/7-unit word gap
PunctuationOwn patterns (e.g. period .-.-.-)One character — see punctuation

Worked Examples

  • SOS: ... --- ... — also on SOS page
  • HI: .... .. — letter space only
  • I LOVE YOU: .. / .-.. --- ...- . / -.-- --- ..-

Print a reference: Morse code sheet.

Common Mistakes / Lookalikes

Writing errors are almost always spacing errors.

Spaces Inside Letters

Writing . - for A breaks most decoders.

Forgetting Word Slashes

HELLO WORLD without / may decode as one blob.

Using Slash as Punctuation Accidentally

Slash can be a word break in copied Morse or the punctuation character -..-. — know which you mean.

Copying American Morse Charts

Use International patterns only for modern writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use dots and dashes, space between letters, slash between words.